Arsenal Scouting Update: Who to target in the summer?

Another failed season full of obvious inadequacies and total frustration. Who would have guessed? Arsenal surely have to spend big this summer to avoid some kind of riot from fans who have grown more and more discontent in the latter stages of the season. For years they have needed a world-class striker, centre-back, and defensive midfielder. So let’s look at the players that Arsenal should realistically be targeting this summer. Before I get into names and numbers, I’d like to point out that these are all potentially realistic signings, not ridiculously ambitious ones like Manchester United fans seem to believe are possible. So no, Arsenal will not be signing Neymar, Lewandowski, Pogba etc. These are players that the club actually does have a chance at purchasing.

Strikers Arsenal should target:

Karim Benzema

Despite being embroiled in controversy, Benzema has still managed to knock in 23 goals in 25 games in La Liga. While it is unlikely that Real Madrid will let him go easily, Arsenal should feel like they could still prize the Frenchman away to form their own formidable front three of Benzema, Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil. The Gunners would have to spend big, most likely £50-£60 million, but it will be considered a bargain if he leads them to a league title next season. At 28, Benzema is in his prime and could be the signing that takes Arsenal to the next level.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

The legendary Swede will be out of contract this summer and available on a free transfer from French champions PSG. Despite turning 34 this season, Ibrahimovic is still a world-class player, scoring an impressive 32 league goals while also providing 13 assists. Renowned for his ego, Ibrahimovic could be a risk for a clash in the dressing room with the manager or teammates. However, it’s about time some of the Arsenal players got a kick up the backside and Ibrahimovic could be great for the team’s motivation and on-field performance. If Arsenal could pull it off, it would be an absolute steal.

Gonzalo Higuain

The Argentine centre forward has had a fantastic season for Napoli, scoring thirty goals in Serie A thus far, nearly twice as many as any other player in Italy. It would seem that Higuain would be open to a move to the Premier League and Arsenal this summer. The London club would have to break the bank though, and a bid of anything less than £50 million is likely to be rejected. Ultimately, Higuain may have to force Napoli’s hand if he wants to move this summer. On a positive note for the Gunners is that Higuain is not currently part of a winning culture at Napoli, meaning that a move to the Emirates would not be as risky a career choice as for others.

Alexandre Lacazette

The Lyon forward was linked to a transfer to Arsenal last summer but as per usual the Londoners were put off by a hefty price tag. Hasn’t been quite at his best this season but still solid nonetheless, scoring 18 league goals in 33 appearances. To be fair to the French international, he has suffered a few injury setbacks and has really missed the presence of fellow forward Nabil Fekir. Lacazette probably won’t be number one on the shortlist but Gunners supporters would still consider him a big signing, and at 24, he still has plenty of time to improve. It’s unlikely that Lyon would want to lose him for cheap, but Arsenal shouldn’t offer any more than £35 million for the Frenchman.

Michy Batshuayi

An unknown to most English fans, Batshuayi has been having a pretty successful season at Olympique Marseille, scoring 15 league goals and providing 9 assists. The 22-year-old Belgian is in a similar mould to fellow countrymen Romelu Lukaku, Divock Origi, and Christian Benteke, all of whom are building successful careers in the Premier League. Certainly a raw prospect, Batshuayi still has a lot to learn, but could turn into a world beater with the right coaching. He will be the cheapest of the bunch besides Ibrahimovic, and with money always critical at Arsenal, could be a strong option for the Gunners. While he isn’t world-class right now, he has the potential to be successful in the future, and could be worth the risk. Would be considered Arsenal’s answer to Manchester United’s signing of Martial last summer.

 
Strikers Arsenal should avoid:

Alvaro Morata

The Spaniard was influential in knocking out former club Real Madrid of the Champions League last season, drawing praise and criticism of Madrid for letting him go. But he has struggled this season for Juventus, scoring only 7 league goals in 32 appearances. Sorry, but that simply isn’t good enough, and does not deserve a big money move.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

The Dortmund man has had a great season, scoring almost at will and terrorizing defences in the Bundesliga and across Europe. However, in wake of much transfer speculation, Dortmund slapped a massive £70 million price tag on him. That kind of money is crazy for the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid, never mind Arsenal. Better to look elsewhere.

Saido Berahino

He’s English, whoopdee do. Quite frankly, he doesn’t have much of a presence on the pitch, has a poor attitude, and thinks he’s better than he is. £35 million? Piss off. He’s at West Brom for a reason, end of story.

Jamie Vardy

All respect to Vardy and Leicester City, they’ve had an absolute blinder of a season. However, Vardy isn’t the man to take Arsenal forward into the future. Great player, but better for him to stay at Leicester than to come to the Emirates.

Centre backs Arsenal should target:

Kostas Manolas

A real surprise in Serie A, Manolas has become a dominant force for Roma this season. A strong, athletic figure, he would fit in perfectly alongside Laurent Koscielny, and would form a partnership for years to come. His performances have gained a lot of interest from top European clubs, although Roma are probably unwilling to sell due to a clause in Manolas’s contract that would see 50% of the transfer fee go to former club Olympiakos if sold this summer. Therefore, unless Roma make a deal with Olympiakos to remove this clause, Manolas will almost definitely stay put. Despite all these logistics, Arsenal should still strongly pursue the Greek powerhouse.

Medhi Benatia

With Mats Hummels impending arrival to the Bayern Munich, it seems that Benatia could be on the way out. After struggling with injuries this season and with an impending change of manager, the Moroccan seems to be on the outside looking in. With Bayern willing to sell, it would be a perfect opportunity for the Gunners to swoop in and grab him for a reasonable price, most likely around £20-£25 million. He has certainly proved his worth when at Roma and in the few games where he was fit at Bayern. Could bring some much needed solidarity to the Arsenal backline.

Raphael Varane

Probably the least likely to want to leave their club, Varane has long been touted as a player for the future. Now 23, Varane is still barely cracking the starting lineup, possibly giving Arsenal hope that frustration and discontent at his situation could help force a move. However, Real Madrid would surely ask for a huge sum for Varane, probably a figure around £50 million. If the Gunners have the guts to shell out that amount of money, then they will gain an absolute superstar in Varane. He would surely be appreciated more at the Emirates than at the Bernabeu, and could have a statue outside the stadium once he hangs up his boots.

Shkodran Mustafi

A versatile defender, Mustafi has made a name for himself as a very competent defender in La Liga and the German national team. Having spent two years at Valencia, Mustafi may feel like he would like a move to a bigger club, especially as Valencia look set to miss out on continental football. Arsenal would be wise to pounce on the German, a significant upgrade on Per Mertesacker. Valencia would most likely be looking for a fee of £25-£30 million for Mustafi, but it is certainly worth it considering his talent and ability to play at right back if required. If Arsenal are smart, they should strongly pursue a move for Mustafi, as he will realistically could be looking for a move in the summer.

Aymeric Laporte

A brilliant young talent, Laporte is currently recovering from a severe injury suffered on international duty last month. Whether or not the injury has any lasting effects will be unknown until he steps foot on the pitch again. But if he comes back as he was before the injury then Arsenal should seriously consider purchasing the young Frenchman. He has a £50 million buy-out clause in his contract, but he could be worth every penny if he continues to rapidly improve as he has been. However, it may be wise to watch and see how he performs once he returns to competitive football before making a move.

Centre backs Arsenal should avoid:

John Stones

The young Englishman has had a poor season at Everton, and although he still has a bright future, it’s hard to see him contributing to an Arsenal side that is primed for a title challenge. Also, his exorbitant price tag is off-putting and not justified at this point in his career. Whether he stays or moves elsewhere this summer, it’s a risk that Arsenal should avoid.

Aymen Abdennour

Was highly touted while at Monaco but has had a poor first season at Valencia. Only 25, Abdennour still has time to find his feet but it would be wise for a club like Arsenal to watch his progress from afar rather than jump in prematurely. Good player, but not polished. Don’t need another one of those at Arsenal.

Ashley Williams

The Swansea skipper was scarily linked to a move to the Emirates last year. Don’t do it Arsene.

Holger Badstuber

Been injured his entire career at Bayern Munich, so he’d fit right in at Arsenal. Would be a typical deadline day panic signing.

Defensive/Holding midfielders Arsenal should target:

N’Golo Kante

After coming out of nowhere, Kante helped lead Leicester’s charge towards Premier League glory. The Frenchman has the heart of a champion, certainly something Arsenal could do with, and is a powerful engine in the centre of the park. Kante has proved to be a great controller of the midfield and has a knack of cutting out opposition threats before they get dangerous. He would certainly bring some stability into a sometimes shambolic Arsenal midfield and provide a calmer presence than that of Francis Coquelin. Should be available for around £15-£25 million and should be top priority for Arsenal this summer.

Grzegorz Krychowiak

The heartbeat of a Sevilla midfield, Krychowiak has been a consistent performer in La Liga this season. Linked with Arsenal last season, he has proved his worth once again this year. Could well be very interested in a move to North London and the challenges of the Premier League. Arsenal would be wise to cash in on his talents now before any of the bigger clubs take notice, especially if he has a strong performance at the Euros. Could be available for around £25-£30 million.

Saul Niguez

For those that watched the Champions League semi-final between Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich they would have seen a 21-year-old starlet waltz through one of the best defences in Europe and slot home a goal against the best keeper in the world. Saul is a player with tremendous potential and has already proven to have the temperament to play at the highest level. It’s odd to say that someone so young could bring experience with him, but he’s already played in a Champions League semi-final and battled it out against some of the best teams in the world. Considering he’s been a part of victories against Barcelona and Real Madrid, the likes of Bournemouth and West Brom surely wouldn’t make his skin crawl. His buyout clause is only £19 million, with Arsenal likely to have to battle with Manchester United for his signature.

 
Defensive/Holding midfielders Arsenal should avoid:

Lars and Sven Bender

Both twins are good players but have caught the injury bug on too many occasions. Sorry but another player sitting on the medical table is the last thing Arsenal need.

William Carvalho

Great talent but still needs to prove he’s worthy of his heavy price tag that Sporting Lisbon have placed on his shoulders. Arsenal should enquire but if Sporting want anything over £20 million then the Gunners should look elsewhere.

Any mediocre “meh” player

In other words, a classic Wenger signing, i.e. Mulumbu, Capoue, Behrami, Kouyate etc.

So these are the players that Arsenal should target this summer in my opinion. Whether or not Wenger remains manager changes need to be made to the squad, especially with many players leaving the club. Can Arsenal finally make the moves the fans have wanted for years?

Mind the Gap - Gender inequality in sports, why it happens and how to solve it

A popular and often controversial topic of conversation at the moment is the pay gap and general gender equality in sports. It alludes to the fact that sportswomen get paid less in their fields than their male’s counterparts, and whether or not they should be paid the equal amount. In this article, I hope to identify reasons for and against the argument, and suggest ways in which the situation can ultimately be improved.

Even though this debate has been around for years, it has recently come back into the public conscious after it was discovered that the New Zealand women’s cricket team had travelled to India in economy class, while the men travelled in business class. To clarify, the International Cricket Council had paid for all of the men’s teams to fly business class but refused to allow the women’s teams do the same. Personally I find this a disappointing act from the International Cricket Council. These are professional sports teams travelling to a World Cup and should be treated as such. There was a good article written by Madeleine Chapman for the Spinoff regarding the circumstances and how ridiculous they were. But she, like many others, missed a key point that is often forgotten. The fact is that women’s cricket is a young game in the professional era, much younger than for men. This means that the game is growing, but it is a long way behind their counterparts. It is therefore not right to put women’s cricket on the same pedestal as men at this stage. When the first men’s World Cup was held in 1975, the total prize money was £9000. In 2011 it was £6 million. Over time the game grows. However, it is unlikely that the women’s game will grow that rapidly. Historically, women’s sports are a tough sell to a male-dominated market. There are ways to help increase popularity but I will address that later. In my opinion, all national sports teams should be able to travel comfortably to overseas tournaments. I therefore also have an issue with the All Blacks Sevens team travelling in economy. They are one of the best sides in the world. For all the money World Rugby makes I would expect them to be treated better. Although I agree that the ICC’s act was one of sexism, sometimes the controlling organisations prefer not to let go of their precious cash.

This leads me to my next example, this time at FIFA, a truly genuine and philanthropic organisation. Last year following the Women’s World Cup there was major controversy surrounding the prize money awarded compared to the men’s tournament a year earlier. In 2014, the total prize money for the men’s tournament was $576 million, with winners Germany receiving $35 million for their efforts. In comparison, a year later the total prize money available for the women was a measly $15 million. At first glance this disparity looks like a despicable act of sexism and should call into question whether football be played altogether. But don’t jump to conclusions. First off, the $15 million is a 50% hike from the 2011 edition. That is a huge gain and FIFA has said that they hope to do the same in the future as they try to expand the game. Let’s not forget the part that revenue has to play in all of this. The 2014 World Cup had a total revenue of $4.8 billion, $529 million of which was sponsor revenue. The women meanwhile generated $40 million of sponsor revenue, annihilating initial estimates of $17 million. This was a massive leap in the right direction. In 2011, broadcaster ESPN only generated $6 million in sponsor revenue for the women’s event, meaning that there was an increase of 667% over the four year period. Also, when the US contested Japan for the final of last year’s edition, 25.4 million Americans tuned in, making it the most viewed football match in US history, which is amazing considering they hosted the men’s 1994 World Cup.

So if so many people tuned in then why did the women not get paid? Well, to be honest, FIFA doesn’t like to pay anyone. Hell, it makes countries pay to host their events, then takes all the revenue for themselves. So while the men may have received $576 million in prize money, it was only 8% of the total revenue. The women received a similar percentage last year. In all honesty, it’s an issue for both genders. The fact that participants get less than 10% of the revenue is ridiculous and shows just how greedy and corrupt FIFA really is. In a separate incident last month, five members of the U.S. women’s team that won the World Cup, filed a wage-discrimination complaint against their federation U.S. Soccer. They stated that the federation paid them only 40% of the wages that their male counterparts received for friendly matches, while they created at least the same amount of revenue. Now this is also discrimination that shouldn’t be happening. If I were the federation I would focus my attention on the success of the women and give them the money they need to keep having such success. Let’s be honest the men’s team isn’t going to win the World Cup any time soon, and probably never will. Sure, they have a better chance than the All Whites, but even we could give them a run for their money. In this instance I agree that the women should be getting paid the same amount as men, especially considering they bring in equal revenue and actually have a reputation as a quality football side.

Speaking of revenue, a lot of people have pointed at advertising as the issue for why women’s sports don’t generate the same amount of money. Now this is a very valid point. For example, who even knew the women were playing their own T20 World Cup at the same time as the men? Sky wasn’t interested in advertising it but heavily advertised the men’s tournament instead. The first step towards higher revenue and athlete income is awareness. The general public need to be made aware of women’s sports by advertisers and broadcasters such as Sky. However, that is only part one. If and when that happens, people need to tune in and watch these events in the same way they do for men’s sports. There cannot be complaints from anyone if an event is advertised and in the public eye, only to see no one tune in. People need to follow through on their claims. Women will only get paid more if more people watch them play. Obviously broadcasters and advertisers have a responsibility to make these events known, but ultimately it is the viewer’s responsibility to watch these women compete. Try and base viewership on the same demographic split as for men’s sports, usually around a 65-35 male majority. If the same split could happen in women’s sports then revenue would almost certainly increase, and do so rapidly. However, at the moment the split is 50-50 at best (usually for Grand Slam tennis finals), and quite often is around a 60-40 male majority.

In some sports equality in some way has already been reached. Since 2007, all four tennis Grand Slams have had an equal amount of prize money for both men and women, regardless of revenue. This is a step in the right direction, although there is still a large gap in prize money for ATP and WTA events throughout the rest of the year. Controversially, world number one Novak Djokovic has argued that men should receive more prize money in Grand Slams as they draw in more viewers and sponsors. He later stated he had no problem with women fighting for their rights, he simply believed that men should do the same. Tennis is a tricky one for me but I think it goes further than the debate of prize money. Really it comes down to sponsorship and awareness from outside parties such as Nike, Adidas and Reebok. Think of all the male tennis players you know. Maybe you saw them on a Nike ad, heard them in the news, or scrolled past them on Facebook. Most people would have heard of Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and maybe Stan Wawrinka. Now think about female players. Everyone knows Serena Williams. Everyone knows Maria Sharapova. But who else? I don’t think I’ve ever seen an ad, article, or news story about someone like Victoria Azarenka, who won the Australian Open back to back in 2012 and 2013 and is consistently hovering near the top of the rankings. To emphasise my point, the number two in the world right now is Agnieszka Radwanska. Number three is Angelique Kerber. Who are these women? For all we know they could be Ukrainian politicians, that’s how little impact their names have. Going back to sponsors like Nike or Adidas, how often do you see adverts involving female athletes? Not very. Leading up to an event like the FIFA World Cup we always see some minute long ad that involves the world’s best players playing some weird match against each other while sporting the logo of whichever brand. I have never seen anything similar for a women’s event. It’s little things like this that will make a difference. Serena and Sharapova do have these adverts and sponsors and subsequently are known to almost everyone. These sponsors need to expand their sight beyond these two and advertise a group of players like they do for men. It doesn’t have to be huge, but enough for people like me to actually know who the number two and three in the world are.

Another angle that has been raised is that the media only wants to endorse male sports. Unfortunately for those that endorse this belief, it is untrue. The media aims certain things towards certain demographics based on popularity and interest. They cover women’s sports as much as public interest allows them to. It’s the same in men’s sports, or politics, or the environment, or any other topic. In this country the All Blacks get more attention than the national bowls team. Not because the media used propaganda and influence to force us to watch them, but because the public has a greater interest in rugby than it does bowls. It’s the same in politics. We receive a great deal of information about the U.S. election, yet what does anyone know about Somalian politics or Estonian politics? Everything in the media is based on public interest. If women’s sports are to become popular, they need a fan base, followers, and a genuine interest from society, none more so than from other women. In the last decade there are many examples of seemingly useless people becoming celebrities, i.e. the Kardashians. They are boring, dull, and have no right to be famous at all. I’ve seen pigeons with more brain power than that bunch. Yet every day we are subjected to hearing about them because they are popular and are in the public eye. For all the complaints of the media, it is time for women to realise that they more than anyone control trends and interests of the general public, particularly the 13-25 year old demographic. So while men may tell you that women can’t run as fast, jump as high, throw as far etc. and say that women’s sports are boring, it doesn’t matter. If you want it to be popular, just treat it like the Kardashians or Justin Bieber or Miley Cyrus or Geordie/Jersey Shore. If these idiots could become famous, then surely female sportspeople with actual talent can as well.

Now let’s remove ourselves from both the media and economics. A common argument by men regarding this topic is that women simply aren’t as good at sports as men are. Obviously this is partly true due to the genetic makeup of both genders, and a lack of testosterone limits a woman’s muscular capacity compared to that of a man. This therefore means that it is unlikely that they will ever hit a ball harder, run faster, or jump higher than men. However, it doesn’t mean that sports shouldn’t be encouraged at the grassroots level. For all the sports available to boys that can lead to professional careers, what do women have? Netball? Either that or individual sports. There don’t seem to be a lot, if any, sports academies for women, and it seems a shame that so much athletic talent is put to waste simply because they aren’t men. Take your minds back to school. Apart from netball, what team sports were girls really taken seriously? Sure, they could play football or hockey and form a cool social rugby team, but everyone knew that it didn’t lead anywhere, they just made up the numbers. In my opinion there should be equal gateways available to female athletes, particularly those in team sports. It needs to be drilled into kids at a young age that there are plenty of opportunities available to them, otherwise by the time they reach high school there won’t be enough numbers to have said teams. But there are females willing to play sport. Look at every NZ co-ed or girls high school. I’d say pretty much all of them have a netball team, and many would have multiple. There is no reason that these same people could play other sports, they just need the opportunity to be presented to them early on. If the grassroots could be improved, only good things can come from it.

In conclusion there are many factors that will contribute to sportswomen closing the pay gap with their male counterparts. I believe it has to begin at grassroots level, where girls with athletic ability need to be encouraged and guided to the professional level in the same way that men are. This will increase the amount of female athletes in professional sports, which in turn would raise the level of ability and competition. With a larger contingent of professional sportswomen across a range of sports, it becomes the responsibility of the media to advocate and promote them through advertising and broadcasting. Sponsors also need to purchase rights, build brands, and ultimately showcase talent to a worldwide audience. Once made aware, the responsibility will then shift to the general public to watch these women, purchase tickets, go to games, buy merchandise, and enhance revenue production. Only after these steps are completed will the pay gap close. Ultimately it all comes down to how much revenue sportswomen as a product can produce. They are a long way behind at the moment but there are ways to help them make more in the future. Hopefully over time these steps towards equality will be taken. If enough people support it then it will happen. But it is important to realise that women’s sports are still in the infancy stage. Just be patient and over time it develop grow into a product we can all be proud of.

IPL Preview and Predictions

The IPL is back! Are you ready to parrrrtttyyy!!! Get ready for another few weeks of watching huge crowds of delirious fans go crazy as club bangers of 2012 blast across the stadium every time Chris Gayle hits a six. So please don’t blush baby, as we preview the teams for this season.

 Kolkata Knight Riders

 Last season: 5th

          

Key Players: Sunil Narine, Colin Munro, Andre Russell, Shakib Al Hasan.

                

NZ Players: Colin Munro

On paper the Knight Riders don’t look particularly strong. Their homegrown players are mostly average or over the hill, while none of their overseas players are ‘superstars’ so to speak. However, this side won the competition two years ago and if batsman such as Kiwi Colin Munro and Aussie Chris Lynn manage to fire then they could sneak into the finals. The presence of West Indians Sunil Narine and Andre Russell also provide the Knight Riders with consistent bowling threats, while Bangladesh icon Shakib Al Hasan will be vitally important for the team's success. As for the local players keep an eye on middle order batsman Manish Pandey. While he didn’t set the world alight last season, he did score an unbeaten century against Australia in Sydney in January. Look for him to hold down the middle order if Munro and Lynn fail to deliver.

Prediction: 6^th

Gujarat Lions

                

Last season: N/A

Key Players: Dwayne Bravo, Brendon McCullum, Ravindra Jadeja, Suresh Raina.

NZ Players: Brendon McCullum

One of two new teams created to replace the suspended Chennai Super Kings and Rajastan Royals, the Gujarat Lions boast an array of talent. However, much like Sunrisers Hyderabad last season, they could struggle to find room for all of their overseas imports. As it stands, Dwayne Bravo, Brendon McCullum, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Dale Steyn, and Dwayne Smith will have to fight it out for the four spots available in the side. Luckily, they do have plenty of Indian quality. Captain Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja headline a strong core group of local talent that will turn this side into a title contender if they fire. With the quality players in their squad, the Lions should be able to make a strong playoff push. Look for them to be there or thereabouts near the end.

Prediction: 3^rd

Delhi Daredevils

Last season: 7^th

Key Players: JP Duminy, Chris Morris, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Imran Tahir

NZ Players: None

Didn’t have a great season last year and it doesn’t look like their luck is going to change any time soon. If they are going to make a statement they will need to rely on their South African core of Duminy, Morris, Tahir and Quinton de Kock. Delhi suffers from the problem that they are far too reliant on their overseas players, and with only four allowed to play a game, it leaves a big hole in the rest of the side. The fact that the aging Zaheer Khan is captain speaks volumes of where the side is at this point in time. On a more positive note, watch out for future star batsman Shreyas Iyer. The 21-year-old scored plenty of vital runs at a healthy average last season and will want to continue that form this year in the hope of securing a place in the national side. However, don’t expect the Daredevils to be around come playoff time.

Prediction: 8^th

Mumbai Indians

Last season: Champions

Key Players: Rohit Sharma, Kieron Pollard, Lendl Simmons, Jos Buttler.

NZ Players: Corey Anderson, Mitchell McClenaghan, Tim Southee.

Now here’s a side oozing with talent. However, as seen by the names above, there will be strong competition for the overseas spots. Add a soon-to-be-fit Lasith Malinga to that list and it gets even tougher. Nevertheless this Mumbai squad has the tools to go all the way again this season. Captain Rohit Sharma has turned into a limited overs megastar and will head a strong batting lineup. For the casual fan, there’s a nice group of New Zealand internationals in this side so this could be the one to cheer for. Tim Southee should be able to get a good run while Malinga is injured, but if he returns it there could be a real battle for that second seamer position. Don’t sleep on young star Unmukt Chand. The former Daredevils player could finally fulfil his potential in this tournament, with the departure of Aaron Finch freeing up a slot to open the batting. Chand will be hoping to fill that hole alongside his captain and play like he did in the U19 World Cup a few years ago.

Prediction: Winner

Kings XI Punjab

Last season: 8^th

Key Players: Mitchell Johnson, Murali Vijay, Glenn Maxwell, David Miller.

NZ Players: None

If you hate the Australian cricket team then you’ll love rooting against this side. Sledging masters Mitchell Johnson and Glenn Maxwell are joined by walking wicket Shaun Marsh, to lead a side that won just three of their fourteen games last season. Jokes aside, this team lacks in firepower at the top and bottom of the lineup. A playoff push looks doubtful although they do have a nice core of young locals that could sneak them in. Don’t hold your breath though. Of those young players, spinner Axar Patel proved to be a nice contributor with both the bat and the ball, and will be hoping to improve further this year. Don’t sleep on bowlers Sandeep Sharma and Anureet Singh either – they combined for 28 wickets last year and surprised with their accuracy and skill. Overall the Kings XI don’t look like they have the ability to make the playoffs this year but should improve from last season.

Prediction: 7^th

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Last season: 3^rd

Key Players: Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, Shane Watson.

NZ Players: Adam Milne, Daniel Vettori (coach).

How this team hasn’t won a title is mind-boggling. Boasting three of the most destructive batsman in the game, it’s hard to fathom how this side hasn’t run away with the championship every year. Unfortunately for Daniel Vettori’s side, they will be without the services of Australian paceman Mitchell Starc who is still recovering from a foot injury he picked up last summer. However, the Challengers have acquired the services of fellow Aussie Shane Watson which they hope will soften the blow. Starc’s injury could bode well for New Zealand seamer Adam Milne, who failed to play a game last season but will now be vying for the frontline bowler spot made available. As for the locals, Harshal Patel and KL Rahul provide the star-studded lineup with security with the bat and ball. Patel took 17 wickets last season and will be looking to impress once more. Rahul meanwhile was acquired in the auction earlier this year and will most likely open the batting with Chris Gayle. An aggressive batsmen, he should help provide depth to the batting lineup and ease the pressure on the likes of Kohli, de Villiers, and Watson. Expect this side to be there or thereabouts once again this year.

Prediction: Runners-up

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Last season: 6^th

Key Players: David Warner, Shikhar Dhawan, Kane Williamson, Trent Boult.

NZ Players: Kane Williamson, Trent Boult.

Really struggled last year with a very top heavy batting lineup. This season they went and acquired Yuvraj Singh to fill the gap in the middle order and he could prove crucial in whether they make the playoffs or not. Expect King Kane to play more games than he did last year, most likely slotting in at his preferred number three position behind Warner and Dhawan. The Sunrisers bowling attack will be headed by the flamingo Trent Boult and Indian swing bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar. This year the focus for the Sunrisers will be for the rest of the side to have an impact on the game, instead of relying on one or two players every game. If they can do so they should be able to make the playoffs with the talent they have. Look to veterans Ashish Nehra and Karn Sharma to lead this charge.

Prediction:  5^th

Rising Pune Supergiants

Last season: N/A

Key Players: MS Dhoni, Steve Smith, Kevin Pietersen, Ajinkya Rahane.

NZ Players: Stephen Fleming (coach)

I’m not sure who comes up with the names for these teams but this one sounds like a three year old came up with it. Regardless, this team is full of quality and boasts three international captains in Dhoni, Smith, and Francois du Plessis, as well as an array of overseas and local talent. They importantly went out and secured the signature of Dhoni, bringing with it the support of half of India, as well as the expectation to win. This side certainly has the quality to do so. Aside from the obvious superstars, expect spinner Ravi Ashwin and seamer Irfan Pathan to provide some solidarity in the bowling ranks. While many have this side as the odds on favourites, I think they’re missing that X factor player that would push them over the line. I guess we’ll see.

Prediction: 4^th